Ranked by Portfolio.com as America's richest city, Newport Beach, Calif., can afford to throw a serious party. Newport Beach Film Festival is known to do just that, and even its Web site touts it as a "leading lifestyle" event. So revelers and cinemaphiles are primed for another Orange County-class fiesta this April 22 to 29. Despite lingering economic challenges, NBFF Executive Director and CEO Gregg Schwenk hopes to build on last year's record attendance of 51,000 strong. Run a...

Ranked by Portfolio.com as America's richest city, Newport Beach, Calif., can afford to throw a serious party. Newport Beach Film Festival is known to do just that, and even its Web site touts it as a "leading lifestyle" event. So revelers and cinemaphiles are primed for another Orange County-class fiesta this April 22 to 29.Despite lingering economic challenges, NBFF Executive Director and CEO Gregg Schwenk hopes to build on last year's record attendance of 51,000 strong. Run almost entirely by...

With a total of 335 films (including 109 world and 78 North American premieres), from 52 countries, screened over 10 days, the 30th Toronto International Film Festival wrapped on Saturday, September 17 with an awards cocktail at the Hilton Hotel Toronto. PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARDThe People’s Choice Award is voted on by Festival audiences – known worldwide for their enthusiasm and love of cinema. The 2005 award goes to Gavin Hood's TSOTSI (UK/South Africa), based on the novel by Athol Fugard and ...

7th ANNUAL SARASOTA FILM FESTIVAL January 28th – February 6th, 2005At the annual black-tie Filmmaker Tribute Dinner presentation of the Regal Entertainment Group’s Achievement Awards – this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award to Ms. Leslie Caron and Career Achievement to Rutger Hauer - at the Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota on Saturday evening, February 5, the Competition and Audience Awards for the 7th Annual Sarasota Film Festival were announced. The evening’s Madam of Ceremonies, Lainie Ka...

COMEDY STORMS SLAMDANCE: It’s snowing laughs in Park City!Happily married in Park City, Salt Lake, Deer Valley and Provo Comedic tour de force John Leguizamo summed up the typical Park City experience perfectly. “I saw a lot of REALLY depressing movies and then went home.” In the digital era of documentary overload, one Independent voice is quietly laughing back from the grave. For the past 10 years Sundance an...

The Regal Entertainment Group7th Annual Sarasota Film FestivalJanuary 28 – February 6, 2005It’s time to leave the daily hum-drum of life and enter the world of flickering lights, fantasy dreams, tall tales, romance, reel life, fabulous parties, rock ‘n roll, educational journeys and so much more as the 7th Annual SARASOTA FILM FESTIVAL gets underway. The 10-day event will take place in the Gulf Coast resort city of Sarasota, Florida January 28 thru February 6, 2005. The Regal Entertainme...

The Slamdance Film Festival, often called the ‘independent alternative’ fest held in Park City, Utah (January 21-28, 2005), unveiled its line up with a record 23 World and US feature premiers (including works-in-progress) as well as a striking departure for its Opening and Closing Night films.Two documentaries will bookend the festival: opening the festival is Mad Hot Ballroom (Marilyn Agrelo: USA), a gloriously fun chronicle of New York kids training for a ballroom dance contest. The film, ...

With over 350 films being screened and over 2000 industry professionals in attendance, the Toronto International Film Festival is a crowded but important launching pad for the best new films from Canada’s prolific film industry.In the past, all Canadian films were relegated to the Perspective Canada section, which provided a strong promotional platform but also was criticized by many in the Canadian film industry as a kind of “film ghetto”. This year, the Festival has decided to “desegre...

Stars Shine at Toronto’s 29th International Film FestivalThe Toronto International Film Festival now in its 29th year, brings the biggest and brightest stars of Hollywood, the film industry and the world to this prestigious Film Festival. TIFF takes place from September 9th to the 18th and is known and the largest and best Film Festival worldwide. The list of visitors who will be on hand in Toronto will be meeting greeting and highlighting there newest films and projects to best promote the m...

Toronto festival (Sept. 9-18) has revealed its full line upGALA PRESENTATIONSWorld PremiereARSÈNE LUPIN (F)Jean-Paul Salomé, France / United Kingdom / Spain / Italy, 2004World PremiereBEING JULIA (F)István Szabó, Canada / United Kingdom / Hungary, 2004World PremiereBEYOND THE SEA (F)Kevin Spacey, United Kingdom / Germany, 2004North American PremiereCLEAN (F)Olivier Assayas, France / United Kingdom / Canada, 2004World PremiereDOWNFALL (F)Oliver Hirschbiegel, Germany, 2004World PremiereFIVE CH...